As Mightyena let out a deep, thunderous roar, its heavy body wreathed in an energy aura charged like a war chariot with its engine ignited, slamming solidly into Slowpoke.
"Slow!!!"
Slowpoke gave a muffled groan as its pink body was sent flying backward by the brutal impact. Like a thrown bowling ball, it traced an arc through the air and fell toward the muddy ground behind it.
Its heavy body crashed into the damp mossy ground, rolled twice in succession, and splashed up a sheet of murky water before finally coming to a stop in front of a gray rock.
"Slow... poke..."
Slowpoke lay limply in the mud, its limbs spread weakly apart and the shell on its tail tilted to one side. Its seemingly vacant eyes slowly closed as it lost consciousness.
The arena fell silent, with only Mightyena's heavy panting echoing through the air.
Mightyena stood several meters in front of Slowpoke, its fur covered in water and mud. Blood seeped from several wounds, dripping through its fur onto the blue-gray moss below and spreading into small dark stains.
Its chest heaved violently, every breath clearly rushed, yet its dark-red eyes remained bright, like an undying flame burning in the wind.
The referee raised his flag high, his voice loud and clear. "Slowpoke is unable to battle! All five of Sootopolis Gym Leader Wallace's Pokémon are unable to battle! Therefore, the winner of this Gym challenge is—challenger Xinhai Bai Mu!"
At the edge of the arena, the Gym disciples rose to their feet as one. Their applause surged like a tide through the spacious battle room.
Their applause carried amazement, admiration, and heartfelt recognition—they had personally witnessed this challenger claim victory with five Pokémon.
Xinhai stood on the command platform and let out a long breath, his tensed